If You Have to Work on Christmas, Santa Can Send This Sweet "Alternative Delivery Dates" Note to Your Kids

If You Have to Work on Christmas, Santa Can Send This Sweet "Alternative Delivery Dates" Note to Your Kids

As magical as Christmas morning can be, many parents don't get so spend Dec. 25 with their families. And one mom from Virginia came up with a simple, sweet solution to help soften the blow for kids expecting Santa to come on a particular night.

When Stephanie Lynn, a mom of two kids, found out her husband Brent — who is in the military — would have to work Christmas Day, she decided they'd celebrate the holiday one day early, "when we can all be together." She then typed up a letter from Santa that offered "alternative delivery dates" to present to her kids.

She at first shared it on Facebook as just a sweet idea for working parents to consider, but after the immense response — nearly 10,000 likes and 55,000 shares — she decided to whip up a few different versions of her letter for families to use, free of charge. She created one specifically for military families and first responders, another for medical professionals, a separate letter for pilots and flight crews, and even one for families with divorced parents. There's even a "general use" letterhead for parents who work jobs not previously listed.

"I'm so glad to be able to bless your family with this," she wrote to the legions of doctors, nurses, flight attendants, police officers, waitresses, and single parents who commented. "Christmas isn't about a box on the calendar, but the feeling we keep in our hearts."

Read on for a look at the different variations of her letter, and click to download whichever one best fits your family.